Tight supermarket milk margins set Dairy Crest stock ‘in doldrums’, analysts

03-Feb-2012 - Dairy Crest has issued a mixed trading update for the first nine months of its fiscal year, with persistent tight margins in its dairies business sector offset by strong performance across its branded portfolio.

Tight supply and high prices in guar gum look set to continue

23-Jan-2012 - Tight supply and high prices in guar gum are set to continue until at least the end of 2012, and probably beyond, claims a leading hydrocolloid industry analyst.

Uncertainty ahead as maize market to dictate wheat prices in 2012 – analyst

09-Jan-2012 - Wheat prices in 2012 are likely to be volatile and will be dictated by the global maize market and weather conditions, according to an analyst at the UK’s Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).

Barley brewing offers basis for portfolio variation and sustainability, DSM

28-Nov-2011 - Jeroen van Roon, global marketing manager for beer for DSM Food Specialties told BeverageDaily.com that barley brewing enzymes could help brewers cut down on more costly malt-based products, and develop new portfolio innovations.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: DISPATCHES FROM BRAU BEVIALE 2011

Brewing enzymes help ensure sustainable production, Danisco

24-Nov-2011 - Ulf Brøchner Sørensen, global product manager, brewing and distilling enzymes at Danisco, told BeverageDaily.com at Brau Beviale that there was trend globally towards less expensive, more sustainable production.

Analysts optimistic about recovery potential for ABF Ingredients

08-Nov-2011 - Analysts expect a modest element of recovery for ABF Ingredients in the year, driven primarily by the fact its Chinese yeast facility is now operational and can generate greater economy of scale.

Proliant pioneers lower cost whey and lactose alternative

04-Nov-2011 - US firm Proliant Dairy claims to have developed a new dairy ingredient that can successfully replace expensive whey powder, lactose and skimmed milk powder in a variety of food systems.

Soaring butter demand sees supply shortage hit Finland, Sweden and Russia

25-Oct-2011 - Shops in Finland, Sweden and Russian will suffer some ‘scarcity’ of butter supplies for the rest of this year, as leading Finnish dairy processor Valio struggles to meet soaring demand.

Danone feels the heat with ‘flat’ Russian sales

18-Oct-2011 - Last year's severe summer drought in Russia has hit Danone’s third quarter (Q3) 2011 dairy sales in the country, with the French company forced to raise prices to end consumers due to higher ingredients costs.

EU food and drink sector backs Brussels decision to end sugar quotas

13-Oct-2011 - The EU food and drink manufacturing sector has welcomed Brussels decision to abolish the EU sugar quota system by 2015, claiming it will allow a more market-focused sugar regime.

Speculation said to be key driver in food price instability

14-Sep-2011 - A new report from the World Development Movement (WDM) links financial speculation to the rising cost of foods, and calls for effective regulation to curb banks betting on food prices in financial markets.

‘Sweets for my sweet’ costly for Bulgarian confectioners

12-Sep-2011 - EU-wide sugar shortages have led to particular problems for confectioners in Bulgaria, according to recent comments from a trade body in that country.

Brussels looks set to end sugar quotas by 2016

08-Sep-2011 - The EU is set to abolish the system of sugar production quotas for the bloc as well as guaranteed minimum prices from 2016, according to a Brussels source.

Unilever: “Strength of brands” combats price hikes as H1 profits rise

04-Aug-2011 - Food giant Unilever saw net profits grow 10% to €2.235bn in the first half of 2011, with its brand equity allowing it to weather severe raw materials price hikes in some cases.

Unilever tipped to sell food business for €14bn

03-Aug-2011 - Analysts at investment bank Liberum Capital said they expect Unilever to sell its food arm, excluding the ice cream and beverage category, for an estimated figure of €14bn.

Wheat and cocoa deliver for ADM but overall profit down 15%

03-Aug-2011 - Archer Daniels Midland’s (ADM) unit that processes wheat and cocoa saw a 62 per cent hike in profit but the agri-commodities giant’s overall earnings for its fourth quarter dropped 15 per cent.

Cargill and ABF-owned firm accused of “manipulating” wheat market

02-Aug-2011 - Reports that a company owned by Cargill and ABF bought all the available UK feed wheat last month has renewed calls for tighter regulation of commodity markets.

Rising food costs causing ‘consumer recession’, say analysts

26-Jul-2011 - Rising inflation is forcing consumers to cut their shopping budget, leading to early indications of a ‘consumer recession’ hitting Europe, according to analyst group SymphonyIRI.

Natural colours drive Chr Hansen Q3 results; probiotic uncertainty continues

06-Jul-2011 - The newly renamed Natural Colors Division was the star performer in Danish ingredients supplier Chr Hansen’s Q3 results, showing 34% organic sales growth for the quarter, compared to 5% for Cultures and Enzymes, and 9% for Health and Nutrition.

Higher food commodity prices here to stay

20-Jun-2011 - High food prices and volatility in commodity markets are here to stay, according to a new report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

EC defends flash boosts to sugar quotas

10-Jun-2011 - The European Commission has defended its decision to release thousands of tonnes of sugar on to the market after accusations that the move would have a detrimental impact on the yeast industry.

French drought could push up global wheat prices

06-Jun-2011 - France’s driest spring in 50 years is likely to have a heavy impact on its wheat harvest and could drive up global wheat prices, according to French agriculture minister Bruno Le Maire.

Food prices could double by 2030, says Oxfam

31-May-2011 - Food prices could double by 2030, claims UK based charity Oxfam, which also estimates that demand in 2050 could be 70 percent higher than current levels.

Dry weather leaves brewers with malting barley supply crisis

31-May-2011 - A dry spring in much of Europe has sent malting barley prices shooting upwards – adding to the woes of brewers already under pressure from weak beer demand, according to analysts.